Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey visits Cornwall ahead of local elections

Tindle News

Ed Davey talks about his hopes for the party and what the Lib Dems can offer Cornwall ahead of May 1's Cornwall Council Elections (Credit: James Davies)

Transcript

00:00You might be aware Nigel Farage was in Cornwall on Monday and he was meeting reform candidates.

00:05And when speaking to him, I opened with the same sort of question.

00:07So I put to you, why should Cornish people put their faith in the Liberal Democrats?

00:12Because if they get a Liberal Democrat councillor that worked really hard for them, our candidates are from the community.

00:17And we tend to be the sort of people getting things done, getting things fixed.

00:20You don't have to take my words, but the leader of the Conservatives, Kenny Bader not, said in a recent interview

00:26that the Liberal Democrats are the sort of people who fix church roofs and the community like them.

00:31So I think you meant it as an insult, but we wear it as a badge of honour.

00:35And we're really proud of how our candidates and our party are from the community.

00:40Traditionally, we have been very strong in Cornwall.

00:43This area actually is a big two-horse race between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives.

00:48And if people want to see the back of Conservatives-run Cornwall Council, it's the Liberal Democrat vote that's the power.

00:54And following a relatively successful general election for the Lib Dems in Cornwall,

00:59and your historic success in the county, are you confident going into these local elections?

01:05Well, of course, you're optimistic that we can make some gains from the Conservatives.

01:09People recognise that Conservatives not only did a very bad job nationally,

01:13but the Conservatives in Cornwall really run the council very badly.

01:17And I think Liberal has changed.

01:20And they know that Liberal Democrats are the ones who can provide that change.

01:24So we're finding out on doorsteps.

01:26I'm really grateful to people across Cornwall who've given our candidates and campaigners a really warm welcome.

01:32I want to thank them.

01:33And also for sharing their views.

01:35They've told us, for example, that the potholes and the road maintenance is a big issue.

01:39And that's causing a lot of people worries whether they're finding punctures in their cars,

01:43they haven't taken their cars to the garage and get mended because of the damage from the potholes.

01:48They're really worried that the budget has been badly managed here.

01:51And with the social care, a really big part of that budget, actually almost 50% are over, I believe,

01:58they need to know that it's a national party that's arguing for social care,

02:02and that is the Liberal Democrats, and that they've got new ideas how to help family carers.

02:08And the Liberal Democrats are going into this election with lots of ideas to improve care.

02:12You mentioned that you feel like it's a bit of a two-horse race between yourselves and the Conservative Party.

02:17Are you concerned at all about growing parties, you know, new parties such as reform in the area?

02:21Well, I think if people want good services, they want councillors who know the community and will be active,

02:28they need to look at the Liberal Democrats.

02:30We are the ones with the ideas, with the tradition, and I think they want a change in the county,

02:37and Liberal Democrats are the ones who can provide that.

02:40And should you win a majority within Cornwall Council, what are the Lib Dems' plans for May 2nd?

02:46Well, we want to make sure that the people at Cornwall's priorities are addressed.

02:51So I've mentioned we've been told on the doorstep by people that potholes are up,

02:55because you're going to have to find a way to make sure we can improve the road maintenance in the county.

03:01But issues like special education needs for disabled children, the services for them would be nowhere near good enough.

03:07And of course, adult social care for our elderly.

03:10We have an elderly population here, and obviously our disabled people here in the county,

03:14they've not been as well looked after as they should be.

03:17So those are the sorts of priorities.

03:19And of course, you would expect from the Liberal Democrats that we have a strong environment agenda as well.

03:24So today, I'm raising the issue of sewage and the poor performance of southwest water.

03:30Those are the sorts of issues that a council could really pressurise the water company to improve its performance.

03:37And how would you in sight change around things like southwest water's performance, sewage dumping from a council position?

03:43Well, I think the council would work, first of all, with the MPs, people like Ben Maguire in North Cornwall and Andrew George in St. Ives.

03:52They've already been piling on the pressure.

03:55And I think working with campaign groups, surfacing in sewage, for example, is one of the ways forward.

04:02What I specifically hope that the council can do is look at the big sewage works that there are across the county,

04:10you know, whether it's in places like Hale or Cameron, and there are a number of others that really could take with Brighton investment.

04:17And I think if we push the south west water together as the other way with that sort of investment,

04:23we get the infrastructure improved so we can reduce this forward.

04:27And finally, one of the issues that I've seen local Lib Dem candidates campaigning on is opportunities for young people within the county.

04:35And how would the Lib Dems create these opportunities?

04:38Well, actually, I would refer to the local Liberal Democrats.

04:41One thing I don't like doing is coming down to a place and saying, I know better.

04:45I don't.

04:46People at Cornwall and the representative they elect know better.

04:49We're a big believer in defolution and people like Ben Maguire and Andrew George are campaigning for more powers to run.

04:57And think about the solutions. I'm sure there will be less than youth services being built back very, very badly.

05:06But, you know, actually, I believe in the core solutions to the core mission use.

05:12And if you elect the majority Liberal Democrat-run council on May 1st,

05:17people will see a new party that's listening to people and finding those core solutions.

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